Universal Connectivity for Non-Universal Devices

1. A method comprising: defining a first communication channel between at least one data collection device and a data terminal corresponding to the at least one data collection device; defining a second communication channel between the at least one data collection device and a remote device; administering, by the remote device, the at least one data collection device over the second communication channel without disrupting communication over the first communication channel between the at least one data collection device and the data terminal corresponding to the at least one data collection device; requesting, from the at least one data collection device, one or more licenses for using software features of the at least one data collection device via the second communication channel; and providing, by the remote device, one or more real-time licenses to the at least one data collection device over the second communication channel to enable the software features.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data collection device is one of an imager, a laser scanner, an RFID scanner, and a magnetic media scanner.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second communication channel is a wireless two-way communication channel.

4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising monitoring a status of the at least one data collection device via the second communication channel.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the remote device updates the at least one data collection device via the second communication channel.

6. A system, comprising: at least one data collection device comprising a processor and connected to a corresponding data terminal via a primary communication channel; and a remote device connected to the at least one data collection device via a secondary communication channel to communicate, via the secondary communication channel, with the at least one data collection device without disrupting communication between the at least one data collection device and the corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel; wherein the remote device administers the at least one data collection device via the secondary communication channel while the at least one data collection device is communicating with the corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel; and wherein the secondary communication channel of the at least one data collection device connects another data collection device to the remote device, wherein the another data collection device is beyond the range of the remote device.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the secondary communication channel is a Zigbee network.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the remote device monitors a status of the at least one data collection device via the secondary communication channel.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the remote device provides real time license to the at least one data collection device for enabling one or more features.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the remote device updates the at least one data collection device via the secondary communication channel.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein: the at least one data collection device comprises a plurality of data collection devices; and the remote device communicates with the plurality of data collection devices so as to remotely administer the plurality of data collection devices substantially simultaneously.

12. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one data collection device comprises a single communication interface for handling communications via the primary communication channel and the secondary communication channel.

13. A system, comprising: at least one data collection device comprising a processor and connected to a corresponding data terminal via a primary communication channel; and a remote device connected to the at least one data collection device via a wireless secondary communication channel; wherein the remote device communicates with the at least one data collection device over the secondary communication channel without disrupting communication between the at least one data collection device and the corresponding data terminal over the primary communication channel; wherein the remote device communicates with the at least one data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel while the at least one data collection device is communicating with the corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel; and wherein the remote device compiles usage statistics and/or tracks unauthorized usage statistics regarding the at least one data collection device.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the remote device monitors a status of the at least one data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the remote device updates the at least one data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the remote device provides a real-time license to the at least one data collection device over secondary communication channel.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein: the at least one data collection device comprises a plurality of data collection devices; and the remote device communicates with the plurality of data collection devices so as to remotely administer the plurality of data collection devices substantially simultaneously.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one data collection device comprises a single communication interface for handling communications via the primary communication channel and the secondary communication channel.

19. A system comprising: at least one data collection device comprising a processor and communicatively coupled to a data terminal corresponding to the at least one data collection device over a first communication channel; a remote device communicatively coupled to the at least one data collection device over a second communication channel, wherein the remote device is to communicate over the second communication channel with the at least one data collection device without disrupting communication between the at least one data collection device and the data terminal corresponding to the at least one data collection device over the first communication channel, wherein the remote device administers the at least one data collection device via the secondary communication channel while the at least one data collection device is communicating with the corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel, and wherein the remote device is configured for at least one of: providing a real-time license to the at least one data collection device over the second communication channel to enable using at least one feature of the at least one data collect device when the at least one feature is need; connecting another data collection device to the remote device via the at least one data collection device over the second communication channel wherein the another data collection device is located beyond communication range of the remote device; and compiling usage statistics and/or tracking un-authorized usage statistics regarding the at least one data collection device.